Bottrell Accountants, Financial Planners & Tax Agents

East Maitland Accountants & Financial Advisors, Newcastle Accountants & Financial Advisors

Australia’s $17.6 Billion Economic Stimulus Package: Everything We Know

The Morrison Government has today announced a $17.6 billion economic plan to keep Australians in jobs, keep businesses in business and support households and the Australian economy as the world deals with the significant challenges posed by the spread of the coronavirus.

The key measures are highlighted below.

Support for Businesses

Asset Acquisitions & Depreciation

  • Instant asset write-off  – effective immediately, until 30 June 2020
  • Depreciating assets costing up to $150,000 (up from $30,000) purchased between 12 March 2020 – 30 June 2020 will be fully deductible in the year ended 30 June 2020.  This measure applies to both new and second-hand depreciating assets.
  • Car write-offs may still be subject to the luxury car limit ($67,525).
  • Businesses with turnover of up to $500m are eligible (previously applied to businesses with turnover of up to $50m)
  • Accelerated Depreciation – effective immediately, until 30 June 2021
  • All other new (but not second-hand) depreciating assets purchased between 12 March 2020 – 30 June 2021 will be eligible for a 50% upfront deduction and the remaining 50% will be depreciated at existing rates.
  • Unlike the instant asset write-off, there is no cap on the expenditure eligible for this measure.
  • Businesses with turnover of up to $500m are eligible. This is an entirely new concession.

One off Tax Free Payment

  • Cash-flow boost to employers – covers amounts withheld between 1 January- 30 June 2020
  • A tax-free payment of between $2,000 – $25,000 to businesses with turnover of less than $50m who employ staff.

Wage subsidy for employing Apprentices

  • A wage subsidy of 50% of apprentice/trainee wages for up to 9 months between 1 January 2020 – 30 September 2020.To be capped at $21,000 ($7,000 per quarter) per eligible apprentice or trainee and only available to small businesses with fewer than 20 full-time employees. Businesses will need to register for the subsidy with the Department of Educations, Skills & Employment starting early April 2020 and lodge their claims by 31 December 2020.

Support for Individuals

  • Tax-free once-off payment of $750 to recipients of social security, veteran and other income support. Effective from 31 March 2020.
  • Sickness Allowance (to be replaced by a new JobSeeker Payment from 20 March 2020) for some employees (e.g., casuals) who do not have any employer leave entitlements.

Support for severely impacted regions

  • Set-aside $1bn to support regions severely impacted by the economic impacts of COVID-19 – e.g., tourist, agricultural and education regions.
  • New and existing Government programs to be implemented by the Department of Trade, Tourism and Investment over coming months.
  • The ATO will provide administrative relief for some tax obligations for impacted individuals and businesses in such regions.

If you have any questions about the above & please call the Bottrell Team on 49 336 888

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